JudgeItoBox:That's way more words than I ever wanted to read about a Simpsons episode.

There's a book called Planet Simpson that exhaustively details the show's history, cultural relevance, the author's personal relationship with it, and detailed breakdown of landmark episodes. You would not enjoy it.

dj_spanmaster:"Hurricane Neddy" - can I really be the first to mention this? NED CURSES

Ned: I just attacked all my friends and neighbors just for trying to help me. I'd like to commit myself.Nurse: Very well. Shall I show you to your room, or would you prefer to be dragged off kicking and screaming?Ned: Ooh, kicking and screaming, please.Nurse: As you wish.[two men in white grab hold of him and drag him away]Ned: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Lisa-centric episodes are usually pretty lame, but if they were their own category, this one would definitely win.

My favorite bit of trivia from that episode is that Groening, et al, really wanted to get Paul McCartney on, because he was the only living Beatle not to have appeared at that point. And so McCartney agreed to appear. But only if Lisa remained a vegetarian for the duration of the series.

taxandspend:My absolute favorite of the series: $pringfield, or How I learned to stop worrying and love legalized gambling.

"Freshen your drink gov'ner""I call him Gamblor!"

Burns: Thank you so much for visiting our plant, Dr. Kissinger.Henry: It was fun.Smithers: We'll let you know if your glasses turn up.Henry: Er, yes, well, I'm sure I left them in the car.Henry, To Himself: No one must know I dropped them in the toilet; not I, the man who drafted the Paris Peace Accord.

Homer at the Bat is a great episode (and I remember watching the first airing) but my personal fave is Treehouse of Horror III. It has Clown Without Pity, King Homer, and Dial 'Z' For Zombies.To the book depository!

No one's mentioned "Itchy & Scratchy Land?" That episode's one of the best solely for the look on the kids' faces when Marge says she's already planned the family vacation to the Highway 9 Bird Sanctuary.

Treehouse of Horror V, not for the shinning (which is excellent) but for Time and Punishment. For my brothers wedding I got my father to give the advice that grandpa gives to Homer to my brother.

Homer: Aah! OK, don't panic -- remember the advice your father gave you on your wedding day.[remembers Abe with hair and a tuxedo]Abe: If you ever travel back in time, don't step on anything because even the tiniest change can alter the future in ways you can't imagine.

Every episode mentioned here is a classic except for everyone clamoring about the Frank Grimes episode. I simply do not understand the love its getting. It wasn't funny, it was depressing and just plain dumb. Really, your gonna say homers enemy is funnier than last exit to springfield?

I always loved "Bart's Girlfriend," but that's mostly because a good friend of mine in high school at the time was a minister's daughter, and very much a secret badass.

This bizarre exchange between Marge and a deadpan Homer gets me every time:

Marge: Have you noticed any change in Bart?Homer: New glasses?Marge: No...he looks like something might be disturbing him.Homer: Probably misses his old glasses.Marge: I guess we could get more involved in Bart's activities but thenI'd be afraid of smothering him.Homer: Yeah, and then we'd get the chair.Marge: That's not what I meant.Homer: It was, Marge, admit it.

SlagginOff:I think we can all agree that any given episode from seasons 2-10 is better than 90% of anything that has ever been on or will ever be on television.

And this is why you'll never see me biatching about the current quality of the show like many have been in recent threads. Yes, it's been years since I've been a regular watcher. And when I do, the show ranges from "meh" to "pretty funny". But for seasons 2-8, as well as several episodes from seasons 9-12, they get a lifetime free pass from me. They can continue to make mediocre episodes for all long as the show continues to remain profitable. All power to them.

"If Homer Simpson's 10-year-old son want's to work in a burlesque house, the Homer Simpson's 10-year-old son gets to work in a burlesque house!"(crowd disperses revealing Marge, who's furious)"Now Marge, you're going to hear a lot of crazy talk about Bart working in a burlesque house."

Marge: Homer, when are you going to give up this crazy sugar scheme?Homer: Never, Marge! Never. I can't live the button-down life like you. I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles. Sure, I might offend a few of the bluenoses with my cocky stride and musky odors -- oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called "City Fathers" who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about "What's to be done with this Homer Simpson?"

Marge: Homer, when are you going to give up this crazy sugar scheme?Homer: Never, Marge! Never. I can't live the button-down life like you. I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles. Sure, I might offend a few of the bluenoses with my cocky stride and musky odors -- oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called "City Fathers" who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about "What's to be done with this Homer Simpson?"

In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women.

"If Homer Simpson's 10-year-old son want's to work in a burlesque house, the Homer Simpson's 10-year-old son gets to work in a burlesque house!"(crowd disperses revealing Marge, who's furious)"Now Marge, you're going to hear a lot of crazy talk about Bart working in a burlesque house."

gunga galunga:SlagginOff: I think we can all agree that any given episode from seasons 2-10 is better than 90% of anything that has ever been on or will ever be on television.

And this is why you'll never see me biatching about the current quality of the show like many have been in recent threads. Yes, it's been years since I've been a regular watcher. And when I do, the show ranges from "meh" to "pretty funny". But for seasons 2-8, as well as several episodes from seasons 9-12, they get a lifetime free pass from me. They can continue to make mediocre episodes for all long as the show continues to remain profitable. All power to them.

Shakes999:Every episode mentioned here is a classic except for everyone clamoring about the Frank Grimes episode. I simply do not understand the love its getting. It wasn't funny, it was depressing and just plain dumb. Really, your gonna say homers enemy is funnier than last exit to springfield?

Agreed. Though I no longer absolutely hate it like the first time I saw it, Homer's Enemy is one of the weaker episodes from the first 10 seasons.

Shakes999:Every episode mentioned here is a classic except for everyone clamoring about the Frank Grimes episode. I simply do not understand the love its getting. It wasn't funny, it was depressing and just plain dumb. Really, your gonna say homers enemy is funnier than last exit to springfield?

Marge: Homer, when are you going to give up this crazy sugar scheme?Homer: Never, Marge! Never. I can't live the button-down life like you. I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles. Sure, I might offend a few of the bluenoses with my cocky stride and musky odors -- oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called "City Fathers" who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about "What's to be done with this Homer Simpson?"

In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women.

For some reason, his winking 'in the forest' part of his explanation to Marge where they got the sugar always cracks me up.

Shakes999:Every episode mentioned here is a classic except for everyone clamoring about the Frank Grimes episode. I simply do not understand the love its getting. It wasn't funny, it was depressing and just plain dumb. Really, your gonna say homers enemy is funnier than last exit to springfield?

One of my favorite lines came out of that episode:

"I live in a single room above a bowling alley and below another bowling alley!"

In the end, Homer wins his team the pennant, albeit through inexplicable and unconventional means. So when Homer smacks a bottom-of-the-ninth grand slam with his team down three runs, how the hell are we supposed to process that? Homer doesn't fail miserably; Bart doesn't quip his way out of trouble; Lisa doesn't roll her eyes in judgment. It was like watching some avant-garde, one-night-only experiment in ad hoc television.

Shakes999:Every episode mentioned here is a classic except for everyone clamoring about the Frank Grimes episode. I simply do not understand the love its getting. It wasn't funny, it was depressing and just plain dumb. Really, your gonna say homers enemy is funnier than last exit to springfield?

Far from my favorite, but I like that episode because Frank Grimes (or "Grimey" as he liked to be called) reminds of some people, and a lot of Farkers, who get waaaay too worked up over something (or someone) they don't like. It's not enough that they don't like it, everybody else needs to share that level of hatred.

I've seen many Farkers have meltdowns over trivial issues that remind me of Frank's meltdown at the end of the episode.

That there are so many nominees for "Best Simpsons Episode" in this thread demonstrates exactly the quality of the show. This show's writers and producers deserve big credit for continually putting out a product that is above average by default.

gunga galunga:Shakes999: Every episode mentioned here is a classic except for everyone clamoring about the Frank Grimes episode. I simply do not understand the love its getting. It wasn't funny, it was depressing and just plain dumb. Really, your gonna say homers enemy is funnier than last exit to springfield?

Far from my favorite, but I like that episode because Frank Grimes (or "Grimey" as he liked to be called) reminds of some people, and a lot of Farkers, who get waaaay too worked up over something (or someone) they don't like. It's not enough that they don't like it, everybody else needs to share that level of hatred.

I've seen many Farkers have meltdowns over trivial issues that remind me of Frank's meltdown at the end of the episode.

Frank Grimes was a meta-character - he was taken from everything that makes "real life" crappy, and placed into a nonsensical Simpsons universe where Homer somehow succeeds, owns a nice house, two cars, etc, despite being a total idiot. It's the episode that acknowledges that Homer could never operate or succeed in the real world.